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Read to Succeed

Act 284, Read to Succeed legislation, was created in 2015 to address literacy performance in South Carolina and put in place a comprehensive system of support to ensure SC students graduate on time with the literacy skills they need to be successful in college, careers and citizenship. Act 284 provides for a strong assessment and intervention system for students kindergarten through twelfth grade with a goal of all students becoming proficient readers by the end of third grade.

Third Grade Retention

Act 284 (Read to Succeed) requires that, beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, a student must be retained in the third grade if the student fails to demonstrate reading proficiency at the end of third grade as indicated by scoring at the lowest achievement level on the state summative reading assessment SC READY. A student may be exempt for good cause from the mandatory retention but shall continue to receive instructional support and services and reading intervention appropriate for their age and reading level. The Read to Succeed Team is aware of research around third grade retention and is currently researching models and solutions in other states and among stakeholders in South Carolina.

Intervention

Providing intervention to children and youth who are struggling in the area of reading and writing is one of the major components of Act 284, Read to Succeed legislation. Children that struggle with pre-literacy skills in 4K and kindergarteners that struggle as emergent readers are to receive intervention as well as students in first through grade twelve that are not reading with grade level proficiency. Intervention looks different for each student and changes over time. Highly qualified teachers are to provide intervention based on assessment data and observation. Interventions provided in addition to tier I core classroom instruction must be documented, reviewed, and shared with family member(s) as well as receiving teachers. A multi-tiered system of support is to be implemented at the school level to provide assistance and support to students struggling in the area of literacy.

Summer Reading Camps

On June 11, 2014, Governor Haley signed into law Act 284 (Read to Succeed). The purpose of this piece of legislation is to improve literacy rates of the students in South Carolina. One of the many components of Read to Succeed is third grade summer reading camps. Each district must identify third grade students who are not reading proficiently on grade level and provide them with the opportunity to attend a summer reading camp. Legislators provided funding to districts in order to hold the camps. Identified students will attend a camp four hours a day, four days a week for six weeks, or the equivalent of ninety-six instructional hours. Districts have flexibility as to how the days are structured. During the summer reading camps students will be taught by highly qualified teachers who have experience in working with struggling readers. Students will have the opportunity to receive small group and individual instruction to work on their reading, writing, listening, and researching skills. Although the summer reading camp is not mandatory for students who are not reading proficiently and parents have the option to not have their child participate, families are encouraged to have their children take part in the literacy adventures that will be occurring at these summer reading camps.

Educator Endorsements

Beginning with the 2015-16 school year, South Carolina teachers must complete professional development or coursework related to literacy to earn either the Read to Succeed (R2S) Literacy Teacher endorsement or requirement, depending on their certification area(s). Educators will have 10 years or two renewal periods to complete the required coursework or professional development for the Read to Succeed endorsement, beginning with their next renewal period. The coursework or professional development may be used for license renewal. https://ed.sc.gov/instruction/early-learning-and-literacy/read-to-succeed1/educator-endorsements/